On 9 July 1900 Queen Victoria gave Royal Assent to the Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act proclaimed that the Australian colonies would be united (as of January 1, 1901) as the Commonwealth of Australia, under a single constitution.

Quick Facts about Australia

Official Name: Commonwealth of Australia

Capital: Canberra

Population: 18,783,551 (July 1999 estimate)

Area: 2,967,710 square miles

Australia is the only country that is also a continent.

Australia is the smallest continent in the world and the sixth-largest country in land area

Australia is home to such unique animals as the kangaroo, the koala, and the dingo, a kind of dog.